The HIDEA School-Based Screening Scale for Teachers to Detect ADHD Markers in Elementary Students

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) significantly impacts academic performance.
• Early identification of ADHD in elementary schools is crucial for intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a brief ADHD screening scale for educational professionals.
• To create a tool easily implementable in elementary school settings.

Main Methods:

• A 5-item scale (HIDEA) was developed from existing ADHD criteria and scales.
• Teacher-reported data from children with and without ADHD diagnoses were analyzed.
• Psychometric properties, including fit indices, correlations, sensitivity, and specificity, were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The 5-item HIDEA scale demonstrated excellent model fit.
• HIDEA scores showed high correlations with ADHD symptom measures.
• The scale achieved high sensitivity (97%) and specificity (3%) for ADHD screening.

Conclusions:

• The HIDEA scale possesses adequate psychometric properties for ADHD screening.
• It is a potentially valuable tool for preventive strategies in schools.
• Facilitates early identification of ADHD in elementary grades.